Galbally et al. (2012) writes “Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a rare but potentially life-threatening neonatal condition. Several authors have suggested that late pregnancy exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may increase the risk of PPHN. This association has been investigated in seven published studies that have shown mixed findings based on diverse methods. Several methodological limitations may account for the diversity of findings, which include, in some studies, a lack of control for well established risk factors for PPHN. The methodological improvement in the most recent study tentatively suggests that infants prenatally exposed to SSRIs are approximately twice as likely to suffer PPHN. Further research on the biological mechanisms involved is required. Clinicians should consider late pregnancy exposure to SSRIs as one of several possible risks for PPHN, which has implications for both prescribing SSRIs to pregnant women and for neonatal care of SSRI-exposed infants.”

If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a birth defect or who faced adverse birth outcomes, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the compassion, experience, and resources required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

The team writes, “Representatives from the American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a consulting developmental pediatrician collaborated to review English language articles on fetal and neonatal outcomes associated with depression and antidepressant treatment during childbearing.”

Importantly, Yonkers et al. (2009) note that “Both depressive symptoms and antidepressant exposure are associated with fetal growth changes and shorter gestations, but the majority of studies that evaluated antidepressant risks were unable to control for the possible effects of a depressive disorder. Short-term neonatal irritability and neurobehavioral changes are also linked with maternal depression and antidepressant treatment. Several studies report fetal malformations in association with first trimester antidepressant exposure … The association between [Paxil] and cardiac defects is more often found in studies that included all malformations rather than clinically significant malformations. Late gestational use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants is associated with transitory neonatal signs and a low risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn.” (emphasis added)

Unfortunately, thousands of women around the world have used SSRIs including Paxil during pregnancy unaware of the risks for heart defects and adaptation problems. As a result, Paxil® birth defect lawsuits and SSRI birth defect lawsuits are currently being filed in great number.

If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a birth defect or who faced perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

In 2009, S. Alwan and J.M. Friedman, a research duo from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, published a study titled “Safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy.” in CNS Drugs that provided important insight into the link between gestational exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs (such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft) and serious congenital malformations.

Because it’s written in plain English and not-so-scientific terms, I have included the abstract below:

“Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly used medications, with a prescription frequency of 2.3% in pregnant women. Although most babies born to women who take SSRIs during pregnancy are normal, there is accumulating evidence that maternal SSRI treatment during pregnancy may cause adverse reproductive outcomes.

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Maternal SSRI treatment during the first trimester has been implicated in increased risks of birth defects, specifically cardiac abnormalities, in the infant, whereas third-trimester treatment has been linked to various neonatal complications, including symptoms of neonatal withdrawal and toxicity, prematurity, low birth weight and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Although data on neurobehavioural and long-term cognitive problems among children of women who were treated with SSRIs during pregnancy remain limited, the possibility of such functional abnormalities is an additional concern.

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On the other hand, untreated maternal depression also carries serious risks for both the mother and the baby, and SSRIs are one of the best available treatments. Thus, pregnant women who require treatment for depression and their physicians often face a difficult choice regarding the use of SSRIs.”

While untreated maternal depression does in fact constitute a serious problem, it is of utmost concern that expecting mothers make informed decisions regarding drug use during pregnancy. And because the manufacturers of many SSRI drugs have failed time and again to adequately inform women of these risks, a number of SSRI birth defect lawsuits have been filed.

If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

These researchers write, “Recent evidence has shown that prenatal maternal stress has negative consequences for the mental health of the adult organism. Our aim was to examine the efficacy of using the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine, to alleviate the symptoms of prenatal maternal stress in Fisher 344 rats.”

Subjecting pregnant rats to daily stress and Paxil treatment during the last week of pregnancy, the team found that “Maternal paroxetine treatment led to a shortened gestational length, reduced birth weight and a 10-fold rise in neonatal mortality in both stressed and non-stressed litters.”

Accordingly, the team concluded that “These results reiterate the need for further research on the effects of paroxetine treatment during gestation.”

Unfortunately, many women have used Paxil during pregnancy unaware of these risks, and a number of Paxil® birth defect lawsuits have been filed as a result. If you or a loved one used Paxil and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Paxil® birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

Here is the abstract of that article, by G. Koren, a researcher from the University of Toronto:

“Several administrative database studies have reported on a positive association between first trimester exposure to paroxetine and ventricular septal defects (VSD). Using multiple source data we have shown that depressed women utilize significantly more health care resources, including ultrasound, echocardiogram and emergency room visits for their babies. Hence, there is much higher chance to identify VSD in their babies than among healthy controls. Moreover, paroxetine has been used more specifically than other SSRI for anxiety, further increasing the chance of ascertainment bias.”

The birth defect discussed, ventricular septal defect (VSD) , is a heart defect wherein a hole between the left and right ventricles of the heart fails to close after birth, resulting in a mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood and thus a decreased overall blood oxygen level. Many other researchers have linked SSRI exposure (particularly Paxil exposure) before birth and VSD.

Because many expecting mothers have used SSRIs unaware of the risk for birth defects, a number of Paxil® birth defect lawsuits have been filed.

If you or a loved one used Paxil and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Paxil® birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

The team writes “We investigated placental transfer and neurobehavioural effects in neonates exposed to citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine or sertraline (SSRI’s), or to venlafaxine (an SNRI)” and states that “Women receiving antidepressants during pregnancy and their neonates were studied. Cord and maternal drug concentrations were measured at birth and in the neonates plasma on day 3. Neonates were also assessed using a range of neurobehavioral tests and compared to controls.”

Results showed that “Neonatal abstinence scores were significantly higher (p<0.05) in exposed infants than controls on day 1. Brazelton scores for habituation, social-interactive, motor and autonomic clusters, and serotonin scores were significantly greater (p<0.05) in exposed infants.” Accordingly, Rampono et al. (2009) concluded that “Transfer of SSRIs and SNRIs across the placenta was substantial.”

Because so many expecting mothers have used these drugs unaware of the risk for perinatal complications, adverse birth outcomes, or congenital malformations, a number of SSRI birth defect lawsuits have been filed.

If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

In a 2013 edition of Fetal and Pediatric Pathology, an article by G. Eleftheriou et al., titled “Neonatal toxicity following maternal citalopram treatment.”, important insight is given into the link between adverse birth outcomes and neonatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs. In this case, the focus was on Celexa. The team writes: “Late gestational exposure to citalopram, may be associated with a neonatal toxicity syndrome with immediate onset at birth or soon after birth and sometimes may be mistaken for neonatal withdrawal syndrome.”

Studying a single case of prenatal Celexa (citalopram) exposure, the team found that “Fifteen minutes after birth, the baby became hypertonic”, and concludes that “Neonatal serotonin toxicity due to citalopram seems the most likely mechanism”.

In this study, “The effects of in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, including fluoxetine, sertraline, and citalopram) were examined by comparing cord blood 5-HT levels in exposed and unexposed newborns.” Results demonstrated that “although platelet 5-HT is low at birth, values quickly increase and stabilize at near-adult levels by 1 mo of age. Gestational exposure to SSRI appears to substantially reduce platelet 5-HT uptake in the fetus, strongly suggesting that such exposure has important physiologic effects.” (emphasis added)

Published in the August, 2002 edition of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an article by a Finnish team of researchers led by T. Heikkinen, titled “Citalopram in pregnancy and lactation.” makes brief but important mention of the danger of prenatal exposure to Celexa and other SSRI drugs. Studying only 11 mothers who used Celexa while pregnant and comparing them to 10 control mother-child sets, the results of this study are inherently weak. Nonetheless, the team acknowledges that “maternal therapeutic drug monitoring of citalopram should be recommended to minimize fetal exposure”.

If you or a loved one used Celexa or another SSRI during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Celexa® birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

The stated objective was “To investigate neonatal outcomes in 997 infants (987 mothers) after maternal use of antidepressants based on prospectively recorded information in antenatal care documents,” citing that “Exposure to antidepressants during the third trimester of pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk for adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, respiratory distress, and hypoglycemia.”

Results showed that “increased risk for preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.96) and low birth weight (OR, 1.98) was verified”, meaning that the risk for premature birth with gestational SSRI exposure is doubled and also the risk for low birth weight with gestational SSRI exposure is doubled.

Further, “An increased risk for a low Apgar score (OR, 2.33), respiratory distress (OR, 2.21), neonatal convulsions (OR,1.90), and hypoglycemia (OR, 1.62) was found, the latter especially after exposure to tricyclic drugs, but no significant effect on the frequency of neonatal jaundice was seen (OR, 1.13).”

Due to the fact that so many women used SSRI drugs unaware of the risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, a number of SSRI birth defect lawsuits have been filed. If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

In 2006, a team of Spanish medical researchers published a report titled “[Neonatal withdrawal syndrome to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: case report and literature review].” in Revista de Neurologica, wherein a child who suffered SSRI withdrawal symptoms after birth is presented along with a review of relevant literature. “SSRI” stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood regulation, appetite, and sleep, as well as prenatal development – particularly heart development. Drugs that alter levels of serotonin in a developing baby’s body have been shown to interfere with cardiovascular development.

For background, the team writes “A SSRI-related neonatal syndrome has been described secondary to withdrawal in infants exposed to these drugs during the last trimester of pregnancy.”

“An infant whose mother received treatment with paroxetine (20 mg/kg/day) during the third trimester was born prematurely and presented withdrawal symptoms within few days after birth. Symptoms were irritability with constant crying, shivering, increased muscle tone, coreiform movements and feeding problems.” Thankfully, after about two weeks, symptoms resolved and the child recovered. For clarity, “paroxetine” is the chemical name for Paxil.

Concluding, the team writes “In utero exposure to SSRIs during the last trimester through delivery may result in a self-limited neonatal behavioural syndrome that can be managed with supportive care. Its increasing incidence in neonates may be due to a greater frequency of its gestational use. All these neonates should be followed-up closely looking forward withdrawal symptoms in the first days of life.”

Because many women have used SSRIs such as Paxil unaware of the risks for perinatal complications and birth defects, a number of Paxil® birth defect lawsuits have been filed.

If you or a loved one used Paxil and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who suffered perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Paxil® birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

A 2002 piece published by A.M. Costei and a team of medical researchers from Toronto in the medical journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine tited “Perinatal outcome following third trimester exposure to paroxetine.” further demonstrates possible adverse effects of in utero exposure to Paxil. (“Paroxetine” is the chemical name for Paxil, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, for short.)

Studying “Fifty-five pregnant women counseled prospectively by the Motherisk program in Toronto, Ontario, regarding third-trimester exposure to paroxetine and their infants,” but after some exclusion, “A comparison group of 27 women using paroxetine during the first or second trimester and 27 women using nonteratogenic drugs were matched for maternal age, gravity, parity, social drug use, and nonteratogenic drug use.”

In the comparison group (control group), only 3 babies suffered similar symptoms. As such, statistics showed that “third-trimester exposure to paroxetine was associated with neonatal distress (odds ratio, 9.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-79.3)”, meaning babies exposed to Paxil were nearly 10 times as likely to have adverse perinatal outcomes.

If you or a loved one used Paxil and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation through a Paxil® birth defect lawsuit. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Paxil® birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.

About this Blog

This blog chronicles legal and scientific news relating to personal injuries caused by defective drugs and medical devices. It is published by injury lawyer Justinian C. Lane, an attorney who takes a personal interest in each of his clients’ cases.